New report suggests more pregnant women should be getting treatment for deadly complication

Some hospitals are taking a dramatic step to save mothers and babies after studies have shown too many doctors fail to follow guidelines for preventing preeclampsia.

Some medical centers are taking a dramatic step to save mothers and babies after studies have shown too many doctors fail to follow guidelines for preventing pre-eclampsia, a potentially deadly pregnancy complication.

These hospitals now recommend that all of their pregnant patients take low-dose aspirin. Studies show the drug is safe and can help prevent pre-eclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure, and other pregnancy dangers.

Last week, the March of Dimes, a nonprofit research and advocacy group focused on maternal and infant health, essentially blessed this approach, saying it may be “medically reasonable” for some medical practices to offer all of their pregnant patients the drug.

The move could pave the way for more doctors to recommend low-dose aspirin to all of their pregnant patients, much as they do already with prenatal vitamins.

Pre-eclampsia, a leading cause of death among mothers and babies, affects about 1 in every 25 pregnancies in the U.S. Black mothers and women with high blood pressure or diabetes, or who are 35 or older, among other factors, are at increased risk.